Henning Koppel Danish-born Henning Koppel (1918-1981) designed novel work in the Scandinavian modern style, for which he received international acclaim. Koppel was trained as a sculptor and did not study as a silversmith. As a refugee in Sweden during the Second World War, Koppel supported himself, in part, by making jewelry. Following the war, Koppel was hired by the Jensen firm to produce new jewelry designs, which were completely abstract in form. His holloware designs for the firm were strikingly original in design and his work reflects an interest in contemporary sculpture. His famous series of pitchers (lots 399-400, 406, 415), seem to defy balance with their asymmetrical curves. These pitchers and his eel dish centerpiece (lot 413) have become icons of Scandinavian modern design.

A SILVER PITCHER DESIGNED BY HENNING KOPPEL

MARK OF GEORG JENSEN, COPENHAGEN, 1945-1977

Details

A SILVER PITCHER DESIGNED BY HENNING KOPPEL
MARK OF GEORG JENSEN, COPENHAGEN, 1945-1977
Of duck form, asymmetrical with an upswept handle, no. 992, marked under base
11¼ in. (28.5 cm.) high; 45 oz. (1414 gr.)

Lot Essay

Koppel designed his most famous pitcher in 1952. It is known as the anden pitcher (in Danish anden is the word for duck), which it clearly resembles in outline with its protruding breast and tail. This model is in the collections of the Museum of Decorative Art, Copenhagen and the National Gallery, Melbourne.

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